New Delhi, Sept. 15 -- The United States has deployed weapons in space and plans to use them to defend American forces when needed, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said on Monday (local time), marking the first public acknowledgement of such capabilities in orbit.

The statement appears intended to send a message to potential adversaries operating in the domain, CNN reported.

His disclosure comes amid growing concerns over the depletion of US munitions following the ongoing war with Iran, as Washington also seeks to ensure that it has sufficient weapons stocks for potential future conflicts.

The Air Force Secretary made these remarks at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference, an annual gathering hosted by the Air & Space Forces Association ...